Machine for uniting threads or cords



Feb. 9 1926.

w. H. PEARSON ET AL MACHINE FOR-UNITING THREADS OR CORDS e Sheets-fleet1 Original Filed April 12. 1921 Maw 1% y INT n M w 2 Feb. 9 1925.1,572,655

W. H. PEARSON ET'AL MACHINE FOR UNITING THREADS OR CORDS Original FiledApril 12, 1921 6 sh t sh et 2 f 1 MTTORNEY Feb. 9,1926. v 1,572,655

w. H. PEARSON ET AL MACHINE FOR UNITING THREADS OR CORDS Original FiledApril 12, 1921 6 s -t g t 5 WET/(7 54 56 LE f"" i.

ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet s W. H. PEAWQN P11" m.

FIACHII'JE FOR UNITING THREADS OR CQRDs Original Filed April 12. 1921Feb; 9 1926.

Feb.v 9 1926.

-W. H. PEARSON ET AL MACHINE FOR UNITING THREADS 0R CORDS 6 Sheets-'Shet6 Original Filed April 12, 1921 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNETE srarss 1,572,555 ATENT orrics.

WILLIAM H. PEARSON AND TIMOTHY J. KELLY, OF PASSAIG, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNORS '10 BRIGHTON MILLS, A CORPORATION OTE NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR UNITING THREADS QR CORDS.

Original application filed April 12, 1921, Serial No. 460,725.

1, 1921. Serial No. 519,257.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, lViLLIAM H. Prime SON and TIMOTHY J. KELLY,citizens of the United States, residing at Passaic, in the county ofPassaic and State of New Jersey, have made certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Uniting Threads or Cords, of which thefollowing is a specification. v

The invention relates to a novel mechanism for uniting threads or yarnsin weaving or other textile or cordage work while avoidin forming a knottherein which involves the entire thread or yarn and maintaimng orreestablishing at said juncture 'or place of union the amount ordegreeof twist which is normal or standard for the remainder of thethread or yarn.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalitiesand combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described. l

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Qt the drawings 2-- Fig. 1 is a top plan of machine or mechanismembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking at Fig. 1 from the bottom of thesheet;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail of one of the thread holdingclamps shown at the right-hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is an enlarged detached, end elevation of the head of the windingreel shown at the upper central part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, transverse section, taken on the line 5-'5 of Fig.1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical. transverse section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical, transverse section taken on the Thief-7of Fig. 1, looking in "the direct on of the arrows;

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary top plans, similar to Fig. 1, but somewhatdiagrammatic, showing steps in the uniting of the threads;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail, largely in section, of a different formof control for the twisting mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly inverticalelevation of a combined tlireadniniting and winding mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation, looking at Fig. 11 fromthe left;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail on line 13-13 of Fig. 11;

Fig. it is a fragmentary detail of one form of device for lifting andsupportin reel or spool;

Fig. 15 is a section on line 1515 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is a detached detail of one form of spool lifting device.

This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No.160,725 filed April 12, 1921.

In the weaving of many kindsof fabrics. and in other textile or cordagework, it is advantageous or essential that the ends of two threads oryarns be firmly and positively united without knots or likeprotuberances or irregularities and that the threads or yarns at theplace of such union or juncture be maintained of substantially thenormal or standard size and strength of the remainder of the thread orcord by reestablishing at the place of union the normal or standardamount or degree of twist.

The present invention provides a novel mechanism for effecting theabove-described function or operation in a positive, exact, easy andexpeditious manner, and provides a. novel means for and method of,effecting the same.

Referring broadly to the present preferred embodiment of the invention,there are provided devices for holding each of two threads or yarns tobe united at two definitely spacedapart points, and, cooperatingtherewith, devices for uniformly and completely untwisting the strandscomposing these two threads or yarns, and for positively storing orrecording the number of twists so removed by simulti'ineously wind-Divided and. this application filed December lit ing up another portionof one of the two threads. Means are provided for locating cuts atdefinite or predetermined points n corresponding strands of theuntwisted parts of the two threads or yarns, these out ends being thenunited by a small knot, and for so treating each such correspond ingpair of strands at predetermined or equidistantly spaced-apart pointsalong the untwisted part, without changing the length of the untwistedpart. Cooperating therewith are means for exactly and positivelyrestoring the normal or standard amount or degree of twist, by unwindingthe aforesaid portion of one of the threads wherein the untwisting hasbeen stored. All these functions are effected without any useless andharmful twisting or untwisting of other portions of the thread, cord, orlike niaterial.

Other features of the invention will be first described in connectionwith the following detailed description of the present preferreden'ibodiment; and it will be understood that so far as concerns certainas pects of the invention, the features already described may beutilized apart from each other, or in other relations or combinationswithout departing; from the invention.

The invention finds one of itschief and most valuable commercialapplicationsin the manufacture of fabric for cord tires for motorvehicles for uniting, preparatory to weaving, the ends of the relativelyheavy cords which constitute the warp of such tire fabrics, and theterms thread or yarn used herein will be understood to include the cordsuse-d in such tire fabrics.

Referring now to the details of the en.- bodiment of the inventionillustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. a machine isprovided with a base 1, and preferably with an understructure whereby itmay be readily moved from place to place to operate upon reeled orspooled threads and yarn in working position, as for example uponcreels, the threads or cords from which are being supplied to a beameror loom. Such ruiderstructure, as shown, comprises legs 2. cross-pieces3 and wheels or casters st, al though such structure may be of anydesired e erring new in detail to the mechanism mounted upon the gene'al base 1, two thread clamps and 11 are provided, these clan'lps beingconveniently, though not necessarily. paired together in their mounting,one of the clamps engaging the end of one of the threads to be unitedand the other clamp engaging the other thread beyond the point at wh chit is to l'JG united to the arstunentioned thread.

As so pnferably embodied, these clamps a supported on a base 12, whichis mounted on the frame 1, and has projecting upwardly therefromstandards 13 and 1 t, in the upper ends of which there is mounted aclamp-supporting rod 15. he clamp 10 comprises a fixed jaw 16, and acooperating spring-pressed jaw 17, which is slldable along the rod 15.The clamp 11 comprises a stationary jaw 18 and a cooperating spring;-press-ed jaw 19, which is slidably mounted on the rod 15. A helicalspring 20 is coiled in compression about the rod 15, and yieldinglypresses the aws 17 and 19, rcpzecti vely, against the correspondingcooperating jaws. These clamping aws and two cooperating clamping aws orlike devices to be later described, delimit a desired or predeterminedlength of two cords or threads wherein the strands are untwisted, cutseparately at different points, the strands of the two threads are tiedtogether, and the whole rctwistcd.

For the purpose of varying the delimited length of thread or cord, themechanism just described is mounted to be movable to and fro on the base1, and may be fixed in any such desired or predetermined position. Asembodied, slots 22 and 23 are formed in the base 1, (Figs. 1 and 7) andpins or r 2iand 25 extend through these slots. At their upper ends,these pins are fixed to a crossbar 26 above the base 1, and at theirlower ends to a cross-bar 27 below the base plate '1. A set screw 29 isthreaded into the cross-bar 26 and binds on theplate 12 to hold themechanism in a desired position, to which position it has been slidalong the base 1.

At the opposite end of said delimited length of the two threads or cordswhich are to be united, other suitable thread holding" or clampingdevices are provided. As embodied, a clamp 34 is provided for the freeend of one of the threads, that is, to mark the delimited length at suchfree end. This clamp is provided with a stationary jaw mounted upon ashaft 86, and with a spring pressed jaw 37, mounted upon but movablealong the shaft, and cooperating; with the jaw 35. A helical s ring 38is coiled around shaft 36 in compression between the jaw 37 and a collar39 fixed 011 the shaft. Shaft 36 is journaled in a bearing 10, carriedon the machine frame, or on a housing; 4-1, which may conveniently beemployed to enclose certain of the mechanism which is later described.

The mechanism for holding the corresponding end of the delimited lengthof th.'- other thread or cord comprises a drum e12 fixed on a shaft 13,which shaft is likewise journaled in the housing 11. Drum 12 is providedwith flanges 41-1: and 15, ljictweeu whit-lithe thread may be wound uponthe drum, as later described herein. The fiance it is pro itled withslots into which the thread may he slipped, and by which it is twistingthe strands an-d of later reimparting the twist tothe cutand tiedstrands by which the two threads have been united. lVhen the retwistingis completed, the thread automaticallyslips out of the slot 46.

In Figs, 1. to the device is shown provided witl power driving means,with auto matic control, as desired, for the thread holding anduntwisting means. lnthe embodied term, a pinion 48 is fixed on shat't36, and a pinion ltl is 'lixcd on shaft 43. Intermeshing with both ofthese pinions is a gear wheel. 50, tired on a shaft51, which shaft isjournaled'in tlie housing 41. A motor 52 may be utilized for driving themechanism,

and as shown the pinion 49 is fixed directly on the-motor shaft, or theshaft 43 may be regarded as a continuation of the -motor shaft.

' ll'leans are, provided for controlling the extent of rotation ornumber of revolutions o'tthe drum l2 "and clamp 3 L, so as to en tirelyuntwist'the strand in the delimited.

length of the two threads or cords and to stopthe untwisting action atthat point, and

in conjunction therewith, means for restoring positively the'same amountof twist to the strands ai'terthose of the two cords have beentiedtogether. In the embodied form of such means, the shaft 51 isscrewthreaded as shown at 5l, and a screw-threaded nut travels on theshaft. The nut 55also travels on av longitudinally -movable rod 56,which is slidably mounted in bearings 57 and 58. The power circuit formotor 52 is provided with a pull-switch or socket 59, of any suitableconstruction and manner of operation, having a cord or chain .60, whichis connected to a bent end-61 of the rod '56. A hand-lever-GB is pivotedwithin or on the housing 41 at Gel-,the lower end of the'hand leverbeing connected to the switch cord at65. A stop 53 is adjustably carriedon rod 56, with which the traveling at 55 engages to throw off switch59. A cable 66 passes from the switch to the motor 52, and the powercircuit is indicated diagramn'iatically at 67.

In acerdance with one feature of the invention, the retwist isimpartedto the united strands oi? the two threads or cords by unwinding thethread from the drum 4-2, and in connection therewith, means areprovided for taking up or rewinding the thread unwound from drum 4:2. inthe embodied form thereof, a spool or reelholder 7 5 is provided, havinga shaft- TGand a seat 77 for the reel. The shaft 76 is journaled in anextension 78 from the housing 41, and fixed on shaft '76 is apulley '79.A belt 80 runs over this pulley and-also over a pulley -81,

fixed on shaft 43. One of thereels carrying one of the cords or threadsto be united is mountedon 'the'reel holder7'5. The drive is a frictiontlrivewhiclrwi'll pay off the thread used in tying'theknots in thestrands of the cords orthreads.

The manner ofoperation of the'hereinbefore-described mechanism issubstantially as follows The thread or cord 09 from the spool'or reel ahasit-s endplaced inthe spring clamp andthe thread is then'placed attheother end of the predetermined delimited length in the clamp 11. Thethread z "from the spool or reelb has its end placed in the spring clamp10, and the thread is "placed at-the other end of the predetermineddelimited length, in one oi the slots 46in flange 4st of the drum e2.Thedelimited lengths of the threads 00 and 1 are thus held at both ends.

The lever63 is thrown by hand, turning the current on'to motor52, andthe spring clamp 34 'and'the drum 42 are rotated in the same direction,thecord or'thread 7 winding on the druint2 one convolution foreachrotation'ot untwisting motionimparted to the delimited length or thethreads :0 and, y. As the untwistin'g movement of the mechanism beginsand proceeds the nut travels along the screw-thread. 54:,and'slidesalong the rod 56 until it'strikes the adjustable stop 53 When the nutengages the stop 53, the rod 56 isslid endwise,and switch59 is actuatedand thereby throws off the currentand stops the motor 52, when thestrandsof the delimited portions w and 7 of the threads or cords a andZ) have been completely untwisted. The stop 53'may be set bycalculation'orby'egperiment to stop the mechanism just when the strandsare completely untwisted.

The untwisted strands are then severally cut oil in. pairs. ithat is,one "strand from each ofthe cords or threads, substantially in a linewiththe respective indicating posts 84;, so that one strand from onethread and a corresponding strand from the other thread haveffree endsat each post, as diagran'nnaticallyindicatedin Fig. 8., and these pairsof slide m, n ando are tiedtogeth'er, respectivelyQas indicatedin Fig.8.

The "operation is the reversed to put back the right degree of"tWistPint-o the "united strands of the *two threads. ln tli-isoperation, thread I) is unwound from the drum 42, the friction drive forthe spindle rewinding the cord on the spool or reel. This reverseoperation of the mechanism and an winding of the thread from drum 42 imparts a positive rotation to the thread holding or clamping flange 44:in the opposite direction from, and for an equal number of revolutionsto, the untwisting motion already described, and thereby there isimparted to the tied but untwisted strands. as shown in Fig. 8.positively and accurately, the twist that was taken out of the samelength of the cords or threads. When the thread is completely unwoundfrom drum 42, it auto matically slips out of the slot 46. In 9 themechanism is shown at the close of the retwisting e eration, withthreads or cords a and Z) united and retwisted. and with the loose,cut-off ends of the strands heldin clamps 10 and 34.

The reel or winder may be used in conjunction with the hand-switch 82and will take up the thread as it unwinds from the drum 42 when theswitch is thrown to drive the motor in that direction, the tied-togetheror united strands thereby having the necessary twist imparted to them asalready described. The reel 75 may be dispensed with and also thereversing switch 82, and the spool may be placed in a baclowinder or anyother winding device, the unwinding of the thread from drum 412imparting the desired twist to the strands, as already described, andalso restoring nut 55 to starting position. The entire splicing oruniting mechanism may be combined and operated with a back-winder aslater described.

By the mechanism very small knots have been made, at separated andsubstantially symmetrically spaced-apart points, in the differentstrands and the points for the cutting and knotting together of thestrands are indicated instantaneously and without any movement of themechanism.

A positive and accurate retwist of the exact amount of the untwisting isalso imparted to this part, or delimited length, of the now unitedthreads or cords. Also. by the winding action at drum 42 all useless andharmful twisting or untwisting of the adjacent part of the thread I) hasbeen avoided. This operation provides a united cord or thread with noappreciable knot in it, with the correct amount of twist. and havingninety per cent or more of the strength of the original cord at thesplice, and all undesirable and harmful twisting or untwisting ordisturbance of other parts of the thread have been avoided. Themechanism is also capable of rapid operation and is readily movable fromone place to another as may be found most convenient and expeditious inuse. The enumerated advantages, together with others which will beobvious to those skilled in the art, are very valuable in all cord orthread uniting work, but find one special value and application inmaking fabric for cord tires, in which the warp consists of relativelyvery heavy cords, which must be very smooth and uniform, and the tilleris relatively very light.

In Fig. 10 there is shown an optional form of control for the untwistingand twisting mechanism wherein the mechanism is automatically shut offwhen the retwist to the right amount. has been imparted to the unitedthreads. In the embodiment of Fig. 10, the switch 82 is acted on byspring 190, which is placed under compression beneath the switch when itis closed, but is sufficiently strong to throw the switch open if theswitch is not held or detented in closed position. A detent 191 isprovided pivoted at 192. and is yieldingly held in locking position by aspring 194. The tail 193 of the detent extends down into the path of thetraveling nut. 55. substantially at the end of the travel of the nutduringthe retwisting operation. After the switch 82 is thrown or closedto reverse the motor 52 to start the retwisting operation, the nut 55travels toward the right in Fig. 1, and at the end of the retwistingoperation it will trip the tail 193 of the detent 191, and spring 190will throw out switch 82 and stop the retwisting operation. Themechanism will be timed to stop when the thread or cord is unwound fromdrum 42.

The device so far described can be used with the mechanism alreadydescribed, including the pull switch 59. In Fig. 10, however, furthermechanism is shown, whereby the switch 82 can be used to control or stopboth the untwisting and the retwist- .ing operations. As shown, a spring196, like the spring 190 is adapted to throw the switch out at the otherside. A detent 197 is pivoted at 198, and has its tail 199 extendingdown into the path of the traveling nut 55, and corresponds in itsaction or function to the stop 53. A spring 200 impels the detent intolocking position. This mechanism would act to stop the untwistingoperation in the same manner as the mechanism at the other end of thepath of the nut 55 would stop the retwisting operation.

In Figs. 11 and 12 a combined thread or cord splicing and windingmachine is shown, and in the embodied form the winding mechanism has aplurality of winding devices arranged side by side in the machine, thesplicing mechanism being movable to and fro along the winding mechanismto bring it successively into convenient operative relation with anydesired winding device.

So far as concerns many features of'the invention, the winding mechanismmay be of any desiredor convenient form, and as shown herein the reelsor spools are arranged horizontally and-one above another, the thread orcord-being wound from an upper reel or spool to another located belowit.

Referring now to the details of the illustrated form of windingmechanism, this is shown in endview in Fig.11 as of double construction,that is with one set of winding mechanisms facing to the right (shown inelevation) and another set of winding mechanisms, facing to the left,(shown partly in elevation and partly in section), all being mountedupon one machine frame.

As appearsfrom F ig. 12, .a plurality of sets of windingmechanisms ordevices are arranged side by side in the machine frame, and adescriptionof a single set or mechanism will be suficient for all.Mounted on a frame piece 90- are a pair of upwardly and outwardlyextending arms :91 and 92,-

having their outer ends recessed, as shown at 93 and 9d, respectively,to support a rod 95 upon which a reelor spool 96: is mounted loosely sothat the thread maybe unwound there rom.

Directly below the mechanisinjust dc scribed, as embodied, a pair ofarms 97 and 98 extend from a sleeve 99, which sleeve is mounted to swingloosely one rod orshaft 100, supported oirtlie machine frame. The arms97 and 98 are formed at their outer ends to hold a rod upon which thewinding spool is mounted to rotate-freely, the rod being movable toreceive and discharge the'spools. As embodied, this spool-supporting rod.101 ismounted in a recess in theend of the arm 97, and a pin 102 passesthrough the end of the arm and the rod, the rod being thus pivoted toswing outwardly, so that the spool or reel may be readily placed thereonand removed therefrom. I

The-arm 98 is cut away at its outer end (Figs. 11 and 14) to form assetfor the rod 101, and a hooklO is pivotedat 105 on the arm 98, and isadapted to swing downwardly to hold the spool supporting rod 101 inposition and to be swung up-v wardly to release the rod, so that the rodmay be swung outwardly forthe purpose of changing spools as described.

The winding is effected in the present embodiment by. means of frictionwheels or discs 106, which are located just beneath a reel or spool 107,mounted upon the rod 101, when in operativeposition. The wheel 106contacts with the spool or reel 107, or with the cord or thread thereon,to rotate the spool and effect the winding operation. The wheel 106 isfixed on a shaft 107, jou'rnaled in the machine frame, theshaft beingdriven by any suitable driving means.

Means are provided in the embodied formfor lifting the spool or reel 107clear of the winding wheel 106 and maintaining it in th-is elevated. orinoperative position duringthe changing ofspools or reels. As,

embodied, referring first to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, a bracket 110extendsdownwardly (F ig. 13) from the support 111 for the rod or shaft 100, andjourna'led in this bracket is a shaft 112, to whichis-fixed a hand lever113. Fixed or integral with shaft -112is a cam 11 i, positionedbeneaththe arm 98. When hand lever 113 is drawn downwardly and to theleft from the position shown at the left hand side'ofFig. 11, the conespondingarms 97 and 98 are swungupwardly, liftingQthe spool 01'- reelaway from the winding..wheel106 to convenient position for changing thespools,"*and by movingv the-hand. lever. 118 inthe opposite directionthexspool is again brought down on the winding'wheel.

A weighted arm 115 is preferably employed to press the spool againstwinding wheel 106 to insure effectivewinding contactor friction,- asshown at the left in Fig. 11. The-arm 115 may also be utilized, as shownat the upper right hand side'in Fig. 11, to hold the spool'and spoolholding arms in inoperative o-r idle position. For this purpose, the arm115 will be swung backwardly beyond shaft 100 and will maintain the reelor spool. 107 in elevated position until the entire device is swungoutwardlyand downwardly and arm 115 is again brought beyond shaft 100. ji

InFigs. lt and 15 ajdifl'erent form of mechanism is shown for liftingthe spool and its supportingarms for changing the spool or reel. In:this form, a wedge 01' wedged-shaped cam 120 is mounted to slidelongitudinally in a guideway 121 in the frame piece 122. A handle122projects downwardly or outwardly] from the wet'igc 120. Both the'inclination of the cam 1 0 and of the guideway 121 may be utilized toeffect the lifting of the spool. When the handle 123 'is'pulledfto theleft in 1 1 the spool or reel 107 will be lifted to the inoperativepOSltlO11,'tl1at is, to stop the wind ingja-nd to permit the spools tobe changed, andlwhen the handle 123 is pushed to the right in Fig. 1 1,the arms 97; and 98 are dropped down and the spool 107 is brought intowinding relation with the winding or driving wheel 106.

In Fig-12 the right-hand reel or spool 107 isshown in the raised ornon-winding posi tion, being retained in that position by its weightedarm 115. The two spools 107to the left thereof are shown inwindingposition, that is, in position to be driven by the correspondingwinding reels 106. a

In the present embodiment, the thread or cord splicing oruniting machine1425' is shown mounted to slide to and fro along in front of a pluralityof the winding mechanisms, thereby being brought into conven ientoperative relation with any desired one of the winding mechanisms, andfor this purpose, supporting and guiding bars 126 and 127 are disposedlongitudinally along the frame of the machine. Bars 1261 and 1271 areemployed to impose proper tension upon the thread as it is wound uponthe spool 107. A reciprocating thread guide 128 is also usuallyemployedto lay the thread evenly along the spool as it is wound there-In this embodiment, the uniting machine 125 is mounted upon and so as toslide along the guide bars 126 and 127, whereby it may be used to unitethe threads or cords therefor, and may be slid in front of any one ofthe winding devices, and may be used to unite the threads or cordstherefor, and may then be slid in front of another of the winding devicefor this purpose, and so on to and fro from one winding device to theother as may be required in the work.

In the present form, the base 130 of the thread uniting machine isextended, and the guide bars 126 and 127 are so positioned that the base180 rests upon bar 126 and beneath bar 127 thereby forming the desiredslidable support for the thread uniting machine. The thread unitingmachine shown in Fig. 11 is of somewhat difierent form or appearancefrom that shown in Fig. 1 (the particular features of which are setforth in a copending application, Ser. No. 488,178), but the machine ofFig. 1 could be mounted in the same manner by extending the base 1thereof as shown at 131 and omitting the legs upon which the machine ismounted as shown in Fig. 2.

The mechanism renders the work of wind- 7 ing much more easy andexpeditious and enables an operative to serve a larger number of windingmechanisms. It leaves the operative free to watch the winding mechanismsand to have both hands free for the work of uniting the threads orcords. The splicer may by a simple movement of the hand be positionedwith respect to any particular winding mechanism. The thread unitingmechanism need not be supported by the operative nor does it requirefloor space nor to be moved about the floor from place to place.

In Fig. 16, and at the right in Fig.11, a damping or braking device isshown for preventing the spool of thread 107 coastlng or spinning as itis lifted from the friction driving roll 106. In connection therewith isshown a somewhat different form of the spool lifting cam, although thespool brake could be applied to any of the spool raising devices. Inthis form of the spool raiser, a sliding cam 1 10 is slidably supportedin a channeled guideway 1&1, supported on a bracket 1l2fixed to theframe. This cam 1 10 engages beneath thearm 98 in the same manner as cam120, already described. A rod 143 extends outwardly whereby the cam 140may be slid to and fro to let the spool down onto the driving roll 106or to lift it therefrom. ,A leaf spring 144: is fixed to cam 140 andextends outwardly into frictional contact with the spool 107 and actsas.

a brake to prevent spinning or coasting of the spool when it is off thefriction wheel 106.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

'VVhat we claim is 1. In a machine for winding and uniting threads, thecombination of a plurality of supply spools located side by side on anupper level, a corresponding plurality of winding spools located side byside on a lower level, devices which may be rendered indi viduallyinoperative, for rotating the winding spools, a guideway extending alongin front of the spools, and a thread uniting device whichuntwists andretwists the threads as a part of the thread uniting operation, movableback and forth along the guideway at a still lower level.

2. In a machine for winding and uniting threads, the combination ofaplurality of supply spools located side by side on an up per level, acorresponding plurality of winding spools located side by side on alower level, devices which may be rendered individually inoperative, forrotating the winding spools, a guideway extending along in front or thespools, and a thread uniting device which untwists and retwists thethread as a part of the thread uniting operation, and provided withmeans for automatically releasing the united thread, movable back andforth along the guideway at a still lower level.

3. In a machine for winding and uniting thread, the combination of meansfor holding a plurality of supply spools for rotation on a horizontalaxis, means for holding a plurality of winding spools'forrotation on ahorizontal axis, means for driving the winding spools, means forrendering the driving means for a particular winding spool inoperativeas desired, and a thread uniting device which untwists and retwists thethreads as a part of the thread uniting operation located below thelevel of the spools and laterally slidable in front of the spools so asto be brought into operative relation with respect thereto.

4. In a machine for winding and uniting threads, the combination of aplurality of supply spools, a plurality of winding spools, manuallyoperated means for rendering the Winding spools individuallyinoperative, a thread uniting device Which untWists and retwists thethread a part of the thread uniting operation, and a guideway on theframe of the machine along which the thread uniting device is movableinto operative relation with any desired pair of Winding and supplyspools, the thread uniting device being supported in and movable in asubstantially horizontal plane, no part of the guide- 1 Way or threaduniting device being higher than the Winding spools, thereby allowingthe operator unobstructed access to all the spools.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our 15 names to this specification.

TIMOTHY J. KELLY. WILLIAM H. PEAR-SON.

